Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed a prime minister for the first time since Russia began its invasion more than three years ago. 

On Thursday, Ukrainian lawmakers announced on social media that the parliament had approved Yuliia Svyrydenko as the new prime minister with a clear majority vote. 

Svyrydenko, 39, last month negotiated a major U.S.–Ukraine minerals and investment framework with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Earlier this week, Zelenskyy mentioned he had proposed Svyrydenko, who has served as economy minister and a deputy prime minister since November 2021, for the top government position as part of “a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine.” He posted a photo of them together, stating they discussed “specific actions to enhance Ukraine’s economic potential, increase support programs for Ukrainians, and expand our domestic weapons production.” 

The defense ministry commands one of the largest budgets and carries critical importance because of the war. Shmyhal will replace Rustem Umerov, who, although he sought to push reforms, saw his tenure marked by internal turbulence and persistent dysfunction in Ukraine’s defense procurement system. Despite his active role on the international stage, critics said the ministry remained plagued by mismanagement.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy posted a photo from his meeting with Svyrydenko and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

“We are preparing the initial steps of the renewed Government,”  Zelenskyy wrote, identifying the key priorities over the next six months as “increasing domestic weapons production in Ukraine, fully contracting the required volumes of all types of drones for Ukraine’s Defense Forces, carrying out substantial deregulation and unlocking our country’s internal economic potential, and ensuring full implementation of social support programs for our people.”

“We defined the results that can be achieved within the first half-year of the new Government’s work,” Zelenskyy added. 

Yulia Svyrydenko was named the next Prime Minister of Ukraine, following a proposal by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a majority vote by the country’s parliament (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Svyrydenko has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level talks with Western partners, focusing on defense cooperation, economic recovery and reconstruction.

Lawmakers and fellow officials describe her as a diligent executive with a reputation for loyalty to the presidential office, according to the Associated Press. 

Of the 450-seat parliament, 262 lawmakers voted in favor of Svyrydenko becoming prime minister, Reuters reported, citing posts from a handful of lawmakers, including Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who posted a photo of the electronic voting table. The table showed 22 lawmakers voted against Svyrydenko and 26 abstained. The Ukrainian parliament does not broadcast sessions during wartime, according to Reuters.